Bon Journal

Five golden rules

My mother has always requested that we don't argue when we're having a meal as a family. When you're hungry, it's easy to get agitated. When you're full and satisfied, the last thing you want to do is to argue. Until you get there, it's best to keep quiet and focus on the food.

Rule number 1: Don't get me angry when I'm hungry.

There's a saying that the customer is always right. The subtitle to that is -- even if the customer is wrong, don't make her wrong and don't make her mad. An angry customer will not refer your services. An angry customer won't help your business. Bad news travels faster than good.

Rule number 2: Don't upset the customer.

The pen is very powerful. The published word is even more powerful because of its illusion of permanence and its vulnerability to duplication and distribution.

Rule number 3: Never aggravate a writer, a journalist, an editor, or someone who has access to the published medium.

The fourth rule is somewhat related to the third. The power of a published medium is the number of eyeballs that it attracts. Equally, the power of a person is the size of her network of contacts and influences.

Rule number 4: Don't offend someone with a huge network, a large sphere of influence.

Which kind of person would be more likely to retaliate when provoked: a tolerant, laid back, easy going person or a difficult and demanding person?

Rule number 5: Don't mess with a difficult and demanding person especially when she is a damsel in distress. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. You have been warned!

10 December 2003 Wednesday